PRINTerviews - Motivation with low to moderate alcohol consumption

What is it about?

The aim of the PRINTerviews project is to investigate the motivation of people with low to moderate drinking levels to reduce their own alcohol consumption. The following objectives are pursued:

Identification of possible resources and barriers to a reduction in drinking among people with low to moderate alcohol consumption
Investigation of possible associations between low to moderate alcohol consumption and the (subjective) health as well as the self-image and social identity of the interviewees
Exploration of interventions perceived as helpful in preventing alcohol consumption and promoting a health-conscious lifestyle and well-being in the population

The project pursues a mixed methods approach. Longitudinal data over three years from 540 people with low to moderate alcohol consumption are available from the DFG-funded PRINT study. A mixed distribution analysis revealed three groups of alcohol consumption patterns over time. Using guided, semi-structured interviews, selected people with different consumption histories were interviewed. The interviews enable an in-depth and differentiated view of the topic among a group of alcohol consumers whose perspective is underrepresented in current research.

The study was pre-registered in the Open Science Framework: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/SF9JG

Project duration: 2022-2025
The results of the PRINTerviews project have been published in BMC Public Health: Zeiser M, Baumann S, Freyer-Adam J, Ullrich A, John U, & Staudt A. Exploring the motives for drinking less alcohol and attitudes towards abstinence in individuals with low-to-moderate alcohol use - a mixed-methods study. BMC Public Health 2026; doi: 10.1186/s12889-025-26015-7